Non-interfering utilization of non-geostationary satellite frequency band for geostationary satellite communication

ABSTRACT

A method, satellite and system utilizes non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) frequency spectrum in geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellite communication in a non-interfering manner. A ground station transmits signals to a GSO satellite using a GSO frequency band and an extended frequency spectrum including the an NGSO frequency band whenever a noninterference situation exists, i.e., when an NGSO satellite is not in-line between the earth terminal and the GSO satellite or when the NGSO satellite is not utilizing the NGSO band of interest. A command module is provided to instruct the ground station to transmit signals to the GSO satellite using the GSO frequency band and the extended frequency spectrum.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/248,714, entitled “Non-Interfering Utilizationof Non-Geostationary Satellite Frequency Band for GeostationarySatellite Communication,” filed Oct. 9, 2008, which claims priority toU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/978,549, entitled “Non-interferingUtilization of Non-Geostationary Satellite Frequency Band forGeostationary Satellite Communication,” filed Oct. 9, 2007, each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSOREDRESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

NOT APPLICABLE

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAMLISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK

NOT APPLICABLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to satellite communication systems and,particularly to geostationary satellite systems that utilizenon-geostationary satellite frequency spectrum in a non-interferingmanner.

Satellites are either in geostationary orbit (GSO), i.e., stationaryrelative to the earth, or in non-geostationary orbit (NGSO), travelingaround the earth. In general, the frequency bands allocated to GSOsatellite communication systems do not overlap with the frequency bandsallocated to NGSO satellite communication systems.

Radio frequency (RF) spectrum is a limited finite resource. Only certainfrequency bands are allocated to GSO satellite communication systems.Some other frequency bands are allocated to NGSO satellite communicationsystems. Channel capacity of any communication system is limited by thenumber of frequency bands and the associated available bandwidth. Thereis a need for a GSO satellite system to utilize frequency bandsallocated to other wireless communication systems in order to obtainhigher channel capacity without causing any interference.

A GSO satellite is in orbit about 35,800 km above the equator, and itsrevolution around the earth is synchronized with the earth's rotation.Therefore, the GSO satellite appears stationary, i.e., fixed in the skyto an observer on the earth's surface. Unlike GSO satellites, NGSOsatellites typically travel at low and medium altitudes and havevariable orbits that are below the GSO orbit. A GSO Earth terminal witha narrow antenna beam width will have its antenna beam pointed at a GSOsatellite. Thus, an NGSO satellite will only be visible to the GSO Earthterminal when it is “in-line” with respect to the GSO Earth terminal andthe GSO satellite. Similarly, an NGSO ground station with a narrowantenna beam width will have its antenna beam pointed at the NGSOsatellite. Since NGSO satellites are non-stationary, the NGSO groundstation's antenna may be steerable in order to follow the NGSOsatellite. The GSO satellite will only be visible to the NGSO groundstation when the GSO and the NGSO satellites are “in-line” orapproximately “in-line.”

Prior art GSO satellite communication systems utilize only frequencybands that are allocated to GSO satellite systems. The allocated GSOfrequency bands differ from those allocated to NGSO satellite systems inorder to avoid interference. In certain allocated frequency spectra, theNGSO frequency bands may be allocated in proximity to the GSO frequencybands.

The GSO satellite may employ a multi-beam antenna that illuminatescertain areas of the Earth's surface. Therefore, the beam cone of thesatellite antenna is relatively wide in order to provide a largecoverage area. By contrast, the cone shape of an uplink beam from anEarth terminal antenna to the GSO satellite is in general a very narrowbeam. The beam (also referred to hereafter as a channel) relayed from asatellite to a controlling ground station a.k.a. an Earth terminal iscalled a downlink beam (or downlink channel) and the beam from the Earthterminal to the satellite is called an uplink beam (or uplink channel).Different frequency bands are allocated for the uplink channel and forthe downlink channel to prevent co-channel interference. As the orbitaltrajectory of an NGSO satellite may cross the uplink or downlink channelof a GSO satellite communication system, frequency bands differing fromthe GSO frequency bands have in the past been allocated to the NGSOsatellite. However, depending on the characteristics of the NGSOsatellite constellation (e.g., low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit), thetime period during which the NGSO satellite is between the GSO satelliteand the ground station, that is, whenever it is substantially “in-line”with the GSO satellite and the ground station of interest, is relativeshort, so that allocated NGSO frequency bands are temporallyunderutilized when the NGSO satellite is not in-line. Moreover,currently deployed NGSO satellites may not use certain allocated NGSOfrequency bands for operation, so that those NGSO frequency bands arealways underutilized.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, a geostationary satellite orbit (GSO)satellite communication system and associated method of use are providedfor employing underutilized frequency bands of non-geostationarysatellite orbit (NGSO) satellites in a non-interfering manner. The GSOsatellite communication system is operative through a ground station totransmit signals to a GSO satellite using an extended frequency spectrumthat includes both a GSO frequency band on a full-time basis and anon-geostationary (NGSO) frequency band on a time-shared basis. The GSOsatellite communication system includes a command module that isoperative to instruct the ground station to transmit signals to the GSOsatellite using only the GSO frequency band whenever an NGSO satelliteoperating on an NGSO band of interest is expected to be substantiallyin-line between the ground station and the GSO satellite. The commandmodule may be further operative to further instruct the ground stationto transmit signals to the GSO satellite using the extended frequencyspectrum whenever no NGSO satellite is expected to be substantiallyin-line between the ground station and the GSO satellite. The commandmodule may be still further operative to further instruct the groundstation to transmit to the GSO satellite using the extended frequencyspectrum substantially continuously when no NGSO satellite operates inthe NGSO frequency band of interest. The GSO satellite may comprise areceiver that is configured for receiving the transmitted signalsutilizing the GSO frequency band and the extended frequency spectrumfrom one or more ground stations, the extended frequency spectrumincluding the GSO frequency band and a non-geostationary (NGSO)frequency band. The GSO satellite may further comprise a frequency mixerthat converts the received transmitted signals to downlink signals and apower divider that applies the downlink signals to a bandpass filterbank. The bandpass filter bank may include first and second bandpassfilters; the first bandpass filter being operative to pass signalswithin the bandwidth of the GSO frequency band and the second bandpassfilter being operative to pass signals within the bandwidth of theextended frequency spectrum. The GSO satellite may further comprise aswitch having a first input, a second input, and an output; the firstinput being coupled to the first bandpass filter output and the secondinput being coupled to the second bandpass filter output, and the outputof the switch being selectively coupled to the first switch input or thesecond switch input. The GSO satellite may further comprise a controldevice configured to decode instructions transmitted from the commandmodule and to couple the first or second input of the switch to itsoutput according to decoded instructions.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the command center maycomprise a data processing unit coupled with a memory. The memory maystore orbital ephemeris data of one or more NGSO satellites.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the orbital ephemeris datamay be carefully managed and updated by a GSO network management system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the command center may belocated at one location on earth.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the command center maybe co-located within an Earth terminal.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the command centermay be distributed among multiple locations on earth.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the GSO satellite system mayuse the extended frequency spectrum continuously (i.e., all the time)when the NGSO satellite system does not use the NGSO frequency band,i.e., when no interference will occur between the GSO and the NGSOsatellite systems.

In yet another embodiment, the GSO satellite system may use the extendedfrequency spectrum all the time while the NGSO satellite does notoperate in the NGSO frequency spectrum, and the GSO satellite system maynot use the extended frequency spectrum at all when the NGSO satelliteis operating in the NGSO frequency spectrum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary satellite communicationssystem configured according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an NGSO satellite moving along anNGSO orbit that is crossing the channel between a GSO Earth terminal anda GSO satellite.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating different interference scenariosbetween a GSO satellite system and an NGSO satellite.

FIG. 4A is a block diagram of a prior art satellite receiver subsystem.

FIG. 4B is a frequency plan illustrating the frequency products after alow level signal is mixed with a local oscillator frequency.

FIG. 4C is a table illustrating the sum and difference frequencyproducts after a high level signal is mixed with a local oscillatorfrequency.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a GSO satellite receiver subsystemaccording to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a GSO satellite utilizing anextended frequency spectrum in a non-interfering manner, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram of a command center architecture inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is an extended filter response incorporated an NGSO frequencyspectrum that is above the GSO frequency spectrum.

FIG. 8B is an extended filter response incorporated an NGSO frequencyspectrum that is below the GSO frequency spectrum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an exemplary satellitecommunications system 100 configured according to various embodiments ofthe invention is shown. The satellite communications system 100 includesa network 120, such as the Internet, interfaced with one or more Earthterminals 115 that is configured to communicate with one or moresubscriber terminals 130, via a satellite 105. System 100 also includesone or more telemetry, tracking, and control (TTC) terminals 170.

The Earth terminal 115 is sometimes referred to as a hub, gatewayterminal, or ground station and services the uplink 135, downlink 140 toand from the satellite 105. Although only one Earth terminal 115 isshown, this embodiment has a number of Earth terminals all coupled tothe network 120, for example, twenty or forty Earth terminals. The Earthterminal 115 schedules traffic to the subscriber terminals 130, althoughother embodiments could perform scheduling in other parts of thesatellite communication system 100.

A satellite communications system 100 applicable to various embodimentsof the invention is broadly set forth herein. In this embodiment, thereis a predetermined amount of frequency spectrum available fortransmission. The communication links between the Earth terminals 115and the satellite 105 may use the same or overlapping frequencyspectrums with the communication links between the satellite 105 and thesubscriber terminals 130 or could use different frequency spectrums.

The network 120 may be any type of network and can include, for example,the Internet, an IP network, an intranet, a wide-area network (WAN), alocal-area network (LAN), a virtual private network (VPN), a virtual LAN(VLAN), a fiber optical network, a hybrid fiber-coax network, a cablenetwork, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), the PublicSwitched Data Network (PSDN), a public land mobile network, and/or anyother type of network supporting data communication between devicesdescribed herein, in different embodiments. The network 120 may includeboth wired and wireless connections, including optical links. Asillustrated in a number of embodiments, the network may connect theEarth terminal 115 with other Earth terminals (not pictured), which arealso in communication with the satellite 105. All Earth terminals incommunication with the satellite 105 may also connect with a commandcenter 180.

The Earth terminal 115 provides an interface between the network 120 andthe satellite 105. The Earth terminal 115 may be configured to receivedata and information directed to one or more subscriber terminals 130,and can format the data and information for delivery to the respectivedestination device via the satellite 105. Similarly, the Earth terminal115 may be configured to receive signals from the satellite 105 (e.g.,from one or more subscriber terminals 130) directed to a destinationconnected with the network 120, and can format the received signals fortransmission with the network 120. The Earth terminal 115 may use abroadcast signal, with a modulation and coding (“modcode”) formatadapted for each packet to the link conditions of the terminal 130 orset of terminals 130 to which the packet is directed.

The command center 180 connected to the network 120 may communicate witheach Earth terminal 115 in the network and the satellite 105. Earthterminals 115 may be generally located remote from the actual subscriberterminals 130 to enable frequency re-use.

The Earth terminal 115 may use an antenna 110 to transmit the uplinksignal to the satellite 105. In one embodiment, the antenna 110comprises a parabolic reflector with high directivity in the directionof the satellite 105 and low directivity in other directions. Theantenna 110 may comprise a variety of alternative configurations andinclude operating features such as high isolation between orthogonalpolarizations, high efficiency in the operational frequency bands, andlow noise.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a geostationary satellite105 is configured to receive the signals from the location of antenna110 and within the frequency spectrum transmitted. The satellite 105may, for example, use a reflector antenna, lens antenna, phased arrayantenna, active antenna, or other mechanism known in the art forreception of such signals. The signals received from the gateway 115 areamplified with a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and then frequency convertedfor changing the power levels and frequencies. The satellite 105 mayprocess the signals received from the gateway 115 and forward the signalfrom the gateway 115 to one or more subscriber terminals 130. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the frequency-converted signals arepassed through a bank of filters that separate the variousfrequency-converted signals having different bandwidth. A switch mayselect one of the various frequency-converted signals, which is thenfurther amplified by Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTA) to producethe desired Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) at thepayload antenna output. The high-power transmission signal passedthrough a transmit reflector antenna (e.g., a phased array antenna) thatforms the transmission radiation pattern (spot beam). In one embodimentof the present invention, the satellite 105 may operate in a multiplespot-beam mode, transmitting a number of narrow beams each directed at adifferent region of the earth, allowing for segregating subscriberterminals 130 into the various narrow beams.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the satellite 105 may beconfigured as a “bent pipe” satellite, wherein the satellite 105 mayfrequency and polarization convert the received carrier signals beforeretransmitting these signals to their destination, but otherwise performlittle on the contents of the signals. A spot beam may use a singlecarrier, i.e., one frequency or a contiguous frequency range per beam. Avariety of physical layer transmission modulation and coding techniquesmay be used by the satellite 105 in accordance with certain embodimentsof the invention. Adaptive coding and modulation can be used in someembodiments of the present invention.

For other embodiments of the present invention, a number of networkarchitectures consisting of space and ground segments may be used, inwhich the space segment is one or more satellites while the groundsegment comprises of subscriber terminals, Earth terminals or gateways,network operations centers (NOCs) and a satellite and Earth terminalscommand center. The Earth terminals and the satellites can be connectedvia a mesh network or a star network, as evident to those skilled in theart. In one embodiment of the present invention, the command center 180is connected to the network 120 and is operative to transmitinstructions to the satellite and each participating Earth terminal inthe GSO communication system. In another embodiment, the command centermay be located at one geographical region and/or co-located with one ofthe Earth terminals 115. And yet in another embodiment, the commandcenter may be distributed amongst multiple geographical regions and/oramongst several Earth terminals. In yet another embodiment, the commandcenter may be mobile and coupled to the network through a cellular linkor a wireless metropolitan (MAN) or a wide area network (WAN) link. Thecommand center may be equipped with RF measurement equipment formeasuring and evaluating interference characteristics.

The downlink signals may be transmitted from the satellite 105 to one ormore subscriber terminals 130 and received with the respectivesubscriber antenna 125. In one embodiment, the antenna 125 and terminal130 together comprise a very small aperture terminal (VSAT), with theantenna 125 measuring approximately 0.6 meter in diameter and havingapproximately 2 watts of power. In other embodiments, a variety of othertypes of antennas 125 may be used at the subscriber terminal 130 toreceive the signal from the satellite 105. The link 150 from thesatellite 105 to the subscriber terminals 130 may be referred tohereinafter as the forward downlink 150. Each of the subscriberterminals 130 may comprise a single user terminal or, alternatively,comprise a hub or router (not pictured) that is coupled to multiple userterminals. In one embodiment, subscriber terminal 130 may comprise areceiver including a bandpass filter bank adapted to let through a GSOfrequency spectrum and an extended frequency spectrum. Each subscriberterminal 130 may be connected to various consumer premises equipment(CPE) 160 comprising, for example computers, local area networks,Internet appliances, wireless networks, etc.

TTC terminal 170 provides an interface for monitoring and controllingsatellite 105. For example, TTC terminal 170 may receive statusinformation from satellite 105, send commands to spacecraft 105, andtrack the position of satellite 105. In the present embodiment, TTCterminal 170 is connected to command center 180 via network 120, and TTCterminal 170 is configured to receive commands from command center 180and to send information, such as the status of satellite 105, to commandcenter 180. TTC terminal 170 may be an independent terminal, as shown inthe figure, or may alternatively be implemented in a terminal 115 thatalso carries traffic data.

According to some alternative embodiments, TTC terminal 170 may be indirect communication with command center 180 or may be integrated intocommand center 180. TTC terminal 170 communicates with satellite 105using an antenna 175. Antenna 175 may be substantially similar toantenna 110 or may comprise a different configuration. Uplink 195represents a command uplink from TTC 115 for sending commands tosatellite 105. Downlink 190 represents a telemetry downlink fromsatellite 105 for receiving data from satellite 105, such as datarepresenting the position of satellite 105. TTC terminal 170 may belocated remote from Earth terminals 115 and subscriber terminals 130.These links may be in-band with the user data links 135 and 140, oralternatively use another set of frequencies.

In parallel to the development of GSO satellite communication systems,NGSO satellite based systems have been developed and deployed. As NGSOsatellites travel in orbits below a GSO satellite, there may be periodswhere one or more NGSO satellites are “in-line” with the GSO satelliteand one or more of the GSO Earth terminals. FIG. 2 is a block diagramillustrating NGSO satellite 215 moving along a non-geostationary orbit250 that crosses the channel between the antenna 110 of the Earthterminal 115 and the satellite 105. The uplink beam of the antenna 110is a narrow beam as it is targeting the GSO satellite 105. NGSOsatellite 215 is in-line with respect to the Earth terminal's antenna110 and the satellite 105 only a very short period of time when ittravels the orbit 250, which crosses the channel between the antenna 110and the satellite 105.

Interference may not occur in both uplink and downlink channels of theGSO satellite 105 and NGSO satellite 215 when the two satellites operatein different frequency spectrums. Interference may not occur when NGSOcoverage area 235 is geographically apart from GSO satellite coveragearea 210. Interference may not occur when NGSO ground stations useantennas 225 that are differently polarized than the Earth terminalantenna 110.

In order to extend the period that NGSO satellite 215 can illuminateNGSO coverage area 235, a spot beam of NGSO satellite 215 maycontinuously be steered over the NGSO coverage area 235, and each NGSOground station within the NGSO coverage area also tracks the servingNGSO satellite as it moves across the NGSO coverage area. To ensurecontinuous coverage of NGSO area 235, an NGSO satellite constellationmay have multiple NGSO satellites so that at least one of the multipleNGSO satellites will be visible at any time from the steerable antennas225 of respective NGSO ground stations. Antennas 225 may be mechanicallysteerable or active phased-array ground terminal antennas.

NGSO satellites are generally designed to have variable transmitterpower level so that a constant power flux density over each service areais achieved. For example, the transmitter power of a spot beamilluminating a certain NGSO coverage area is reduced when the NGSOsatellite is traveling directly at or near the top (e.g., position A) ofthe illuminated NGSO coverage area, and the transmitter power will beincreased when the NGSO satellite moves away from the coverage area 225.The transmitter power of NGSO ground station antennas may also beincreased to compensate for path loss when the NGSO satellite moves away(e.g., position B) from the NGSO coverage area or when fading eventsoccur (e.g., under rain or snow conditions). The NGSO satellite mayinterfere with the GSO Earth terminal 115 although its main antenna beamis pointed at the NGSO coverage area 235 that is geographically apartfrom the GSO Earth terminal because its side antenna beams may bepointing at the antenna 110.

Interference between the GSO satellite and the NGSO satellite can bemitigated when the GSO and NGSO satellites use different frequencyspectrums. However, frequency spectrums available for satellitecommunications is very limited and there is a need for frequencyspectrum sharing in order to use the available frequency spectrum moreefficiently. The ITU Radio Regulations have been updated to allow NGSOsystems to share parts of the Ku- and Ka-band spectrums with GSOsatellite systems. In one embodiment of the present invention, a GSOsatellite system exploits the fact that NGSO satellites may be in-lineor approximately in-line with respect to the GSO satellite and one ormore of the Earth terminals only for a relative short time period due tothe narrow antenna beam of the Earth terminal pointing to the GSOsatellite so that the NGSO frequency spectrum can be used in the GSOsatellite communication system for the time period where NGSO satellitesare not in in-line with respect to the Earth terminal and the GSOsatellite.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating different interference scenariosbetween a GSO satellite system and an NGSO satellite that is in-line orapproximately in-line with respect to the Earth terminal and the GSOsatellite. In the following description, “in-line” means that the NGSOsatellite is positioned between the main beam of the Earth terminal'santenna 110 and the respective GSO satellite (as shown in FIG. 3) oralternatively that the GSO satellite is positioned between the NGSOsatellite and the NGSO ground stations' antennas 225. “Interference”relates to frequency, phase, amplitude disturbance and/or anycombination thereof caused by interaction between signals transmitted bythe GSO and NGSO satellite systems. An example of the interference levelor severity may be expressed by the carrier to interference power ratio(C/I). There are four interference scenarios: (1) The NGSO satellite isinterfering with a GSO Earth terminal; (2) NGSO ground stations areinterfering with the GSO satellite; (3) GSO Earth terminals areinterfering with the NGSO satellite, and (4) The GSO satellite isinterfering with an NGSO ground station.

The worst case interference scenario (1) may occur when the NGSOsatellite is pointing its main antenna beam at an NGSO terminal that islocated closely to the GSO Earth terminal. Interference scenario (1) mayalso occur when the main beam of the NGSO satellite is pointing to anNGSO ground station that is geographically apart from the GSO Earthterminals but the NGSO satellite antenna side beams are pointing at theGSO Earth terminal.

The worst case interference scenarios (2) and (4) may occur when themain beam of an NGSO ground station is pointing at the GSO satellite.And the worst case in interference scenario (3) may be when the mainbeam of the GSO antenna is pointing at the NGSO satellite. These fourinterference scenarios will be avoided or at least mitigated if the GSOsatellite system does not use the NGSO frequency spectrum when an NGSOsatellite is in-line. The interference severity can be measured using RFequipment, estimated using known data, or simulated using knownsimulation models. The carrier-to-interference power ratio is forexample a parameter for determining the interference level. The GSOsystem must operate on a totally non-interference basis with the NGSOsystem. This requires that when the NGSO satellite is in-line orapproximately in-line with respect to the Earth terminal and the GSOsatellite, the GSO Earth terminal cannot transmit any signals towardsthe NGSO satellite utilizing the NGSO frequency spectrum since thetransmitted signals would interfere with the desired NGSO ground stationuplink signals. NGSO satellite systems can be low earth orbit (LEO)satellite systems, medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite systems, or highearth orbit (HEO) satellite systems. The interference level and/or thein-line duration may depend on the antenna characteristics, receiversensitivity of the NGSO satellite in question, and its orbital altitude.According to some embodiments, if satellite 215 is a HEO satellite,satellite 215 may be in an orbit that is sometimes higher than the orbitof satellite 215. As a result, satellite 105 may pass between satellite215 and antennas 225 of the NGSO ground stations, which may result insatellite 105 interfering with communications between satellite 215 andthe NGSO ground stations if satellite 225 is using an extended frequencyspectrum that includes the NGSO frequency spectrum.

When the GSO and NGSO satellites are not in-line, the NGSO spectrum issaid to be “available” for utilization by the GSO satellitecommunication system. When the GSO and NGSO satellites are “in-line” orapproximately “in-line”, the NGSO spectrum is said to be “unavailable”for utilization by the GSO system. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the GSO satellite design will incorporate at least twobandpass filters, which may be selected according to instructionsreceived from a command center on earth. The selection of a bandpassfilter having the appropriate bandwidth may be based on orbitalephemeris data that are maintained and updated by a GSO networkmanagement system (NMS). Earth terminals that are participating in theGSO satellite communication system may be capable of transmittingsignals to the GSO satellite using a GSO frequency spectrum and anextended frequency spectrum. The extended spectrum includes the GSOfrequency spectrum and an NGSO frequency spectrum. In anotherembodiment, the GSO satellite design may incorporate a control device onboard that contains orbital ephemeris data. The on-board control devicemay select the appropriate bandpass filter based on the stored orbitalephemeris data. This design alternative is feasible if all frequencyspectrums and orbital information of the NGSO system have beendetermined and remain unchanged during the life of the GSO satellite.When the NGSO spectrum is available, a bandpass filter with a bandwidththat passes the GSO and NGSO spectrums will be used. When the NGSOspectrum is not available, a bandpass filter with a narrower bandwidththat only lets the GSO spectrum through but attenuates the NGSO spectrumsufficiently will be used. This will reduce all emissions by thesatellite in the NGSO band to a level that does not cause any downlinkinterference to the NGSO system. In addition, when the NGSO spectrum isunavailable, the Earth terminals of the GSO system will not use the NGSOfrequency spectrum to prevent any significant radiation and interferenceto the NGSO satellites. During the short interval of NGSO spectrumunavailability, the GSO satellite communication system will operate in areduced transmission capacity mode.

In one embodiment, the GSO satellite communication system uses itsallocated GSO frequency spectrum in a primary basis. The GSO satellitecommunication system extends the allocated primary GSO frequencyspectrum with an NGSO frequency spectrum in a secondary basis when theNGSO satellite is not in-line, and the spectrum extension can beoperated in a non-interfering manner. In one embodiment, both the GSOand the NGSO satellite communication systems operate in a Ka-band. Forexample, the GSO primary uplink frequency spectrum may be 28.1 to 28.6GHz, and the GSO primary downlink frequency spectrum may be 18.3 to 18.8GHz. The NGSO uplink frequency spectrum may be 28.6 to 29.1 GHz and theNGSO downlink frequency spectrum may be 18.8 to 19.3 GHz.

In order to manage the interference events, orbital ephemeris data mustbe carefully managed and updated by the GSO network management system(NMS). When an interference event is anticipated, the NMS must have thecapability to move all traffic to the GSO spectrum and select theappropriate bandpass filter. From a frequency reuse standpoint, the NGSOfrequency spectrum would be an extension of the GSO operating frequencyspectrum.

Generally a satellite receives an uplink signal transmitted from anEarth terminal at some frequency and converts it to a downlink signal atan offset transmit frequency. The downlink signal at the transmitfrequency is then amplified for obtaining the downlink EIRPs. TWTA orsolid state power amplifiers can be used. Different uplink and downlinkfrequencies are used so that they do not interfere with each other. Thesatellite RF subsystem includes a receiver bandpass filter 410 adaptedto pass the desired uplink signal, a low noise amplifier 420 adapted toamplify the filtered uplink signal 415, a mixer 430 that down convertsthe uplink signal at frequency Frx by mixing it with a local oscillator440, and a bandpass filter 450 that passes the desired frequency product460 as shown in FIG. 4A. According to some embodiments, the satellite RFsubsystem may include another filter (not shown) between the low noiseamplifier 420 and mixer 430. Mixer 430 is a 3-port device that takes theinput signal 425 (e.g., the amplified uplink signal) and the localoscillator signal 440 and frequency translates the uplink signal to adownlink signal. In most satellite communication, the downlink frequencysignal is lower than the uplink frequency signal. If the signal levelapplied to the mixer is low, the mixed products may have two frequencyproducts representing the sum (F_(LO)+F_(rx)) and the difference(F_(LO)−F_(rx)). If the signal level applied to the mixer is high, theresulting mixed products may have multiple harmonics consisting of everyM*F_(rx)±N*F_(LO) frequency product where M and N are integers. FIG. 4Bis a block diagram illustrating the sum and difference products of an LOfrequency of 9.0 GHz with a 2.0 GHz signal. The difference product is7.0 GHz and the sum product is 11.0 GHz. FIG. 4C is a block diagramillustrating all of the possible sum and difference spectral productsfor M, N=1, 2, and 3. The difference product is 7.0 MHz and the sumproduct is 11.0 GHz for M=N=1.

Filter 450 is a bandpass filter that attenuates all of the undesiredharmonics to a power level below the spectral emission requirements andlet the desired frequency product pass through to the amplifiers (notshown).

In one embodiment of the present invention, an exemplary design of theGSO satellite system utilizing the additional NGSO spectrum is shown inFIG. 5. The satellite RF receiver subsystem 500 comprises a receiverbandpass filter 510 that passes the composite GSO/NGSO uplink signalspectrum 515 and attenuates all other frequency components including theimage of the uplink signal. The composite GSO/NGSO signal is thenamplified by a low noise amplifier 520 and the amplified compositesignal 525 is then applied to mixer 530, where the signal 525 is mixedwith local oscillator 540 to produce multiple frequency productsincluding a desired GSO downlink signal. According to some embodiments,the satellite RF subsystem may include another filter (not shown)between the low noise amplifier 520 and mixer 530. Mixer 530 may be abalanced mixer to cancel many mixer products due to the balancecharacteristics. The mixer may also be an image rejection mixer. LO 540may be generated from an oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO),which provides a very stable reference frequency. The multiple frequencyproducts 545 are then divided into two paths 554 and 556 by powerdivider 550. In one embodiment, both paths 554 and 556 have the samepower level. In one embodiment, the filter response of bandpass filter560 has a bandwidth that lets the desired GSO downlink signal 570through and the filter response of bandpass filter 562 has an extendedbandwidth that lets the composite GSO/NGSO downlink signal 572 through.In one embodiment, bandpass filters 560 and 562 can be implemented withlumped L and C components, which provide wide bandwidth but moderate Q.In another embodiment, bandpass filters can be implemented usingmicrostrips for achieving high Q. In yet another embodiment, bandpassfilters can be implemented using high K ceramic materials for achievingeven higher Q. The frequency responses of bandpass filters 560 and 562are different. In one embodiment, bandpass filter 560 passes the GSOfrequency spectrum but attenuates the NGSO frequency spectrum whereasbandpass filter 562 passes both GSO and NGSO frequency spectrums andattenuates all other frequencies. The desired bandwidth of the downlinksignal can then be selected by switch 580. In one embodiment, switch 580can be a PIN diode single-pole double-throw (SPDT) MMIC switch.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a control device 590on-board the satellite is operative to demodulate the down-convertedsignal, extract relevant information from the demodulated signal, anddecode instructions that are relevant for the operation of the receiversubsystem. The down-converted signal can be taken from the output 545 ofthe mixer 530, from the output 570 of the GSO bandpass filter 560, orfrom the output 572 of the GSO/NGSO bandpass filter 562 and demodulatedby demodulator 591. One skilled in the art will recognize that thedown-converted signal is not limited to only being taken from the output545, from the output 570, or from the output 572 as illustrated in FIG.5, and that the down-converted signal may be taken from other points inthe receiver subsystem according to alternative embodiments of thepresent invention. Decoded instructions are then applied tocorresponding components of the receiver subsystem. In one embodiment,instructions may include the selection of the desired bandpass filter.According to other embodiments of the present invention, instructionsfrom the command center may not be transmitted in band as described inFIG. 6. For example, instructions from the command center may betransmitted to satellite 105 via a separate telemetry link, such asuplink 195 illustrated in FIG. 1. Where the command signals are nottransmitted in band, additional hardware for processing signals carryingthe instructions from the command center may be included in receiversubsystem 500.

Since the GSO satellite payload can dynamically operate over the NGSOfrequency spectrum, it provides the GSO satellite communication systemthe capability to operate over spectrum that is otherwise not beingused. In the case where the frequency spectrum has been allocated to theNGSO satellite system but is not used, it provides the GSO satellitecommunication system the capability to totally utilize that frequencyspectrum. If and when that frequency spectrum is allocated and it isfully utilized by the NGSO satellite system, the GSO satellite systemcan be configured such that it will never operate over that frequencyspectrum.

Because NGSO satellites are typically closer to the Earth's surface thanGSO satellites, the necessary antenna size and transmission power levelare often much smaller than those of GSO satellites, and the footprintsof the NGSO satellites (coverage areas) are also much smaller than theGSO satellite coverage areas. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the GSO satellite design may use the NGSO band flexibly andefficiently when the NGSO satellite system is operational but does notoperate over a given coverage area that overlaps the GSO coverage area.In this case, the frequency spectrum of the GSO satellite system may beextended to include the NGSO frequency spectrum.

One of the primary factors of the NGSO spectrum availability to the GSOsystem is the directivity of both the GSO and NGSO systems. High antennadirectivity results in narrow beam widths and confines transmitted andreceived spectral energy, the frequency of occurrences where the narrowbeams are in-line is reduced. This is the case where spot-beam satellitesystems are deployed. The satellite filter selectivity would beindividually controllable for each narrow beam. For example, if a GSOsatellite system were operating over the continental United States witha number of small directional antennas and an NGSO satellite was passingover the West coast, the East coast beams could continue to operate withthe extended bandwidth that includes the NGSO frequency band since theyare well out of the NGSO coverage area. In case where NGSO satellitesystems utilize omni-directional antennas, they will likely interferemore frequently with a GSO satellite that utilizes the NGSO band, andhence, the GSO satellite can utilize the extended frequency band a muchsmaller fraction of time.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a GSO satellite communicationsystem that uses an extended frequency spectrum in a non-interferencemanner, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. TheGSO Earth terminal and the GSO satellite may select the appropriatebandpass filter according to instructions received from the commandcenter (not shown). GSO frequency band 610 is the primary frequencyspectrum allocated to the GSO satellite communication system and NGSOfrequency band 620 is the primary frequency spectrum allocated to theNGSO satellite communication system. When the NGSO satellite 215 isin-line with respect to the GSO Earth terminal (shown as antenna 110)and the GSO satellite, the command center will instruct the GSO Earthterminal and the GSO satellite 105 to use the GSO spectrum only, the useof the GSO spectrum is indicated by filter response 630. When the NGSOsatellite 215 is not in-line with respect to the GSO Earth terminal andthe GSO satellite, the command center will instruct the GSO Earthterminal and the satellite to use the extended frequency spectrum, whichincludes the GSO frequency spectrum 610 and NGSO frequency spectrum 620.The use of the extended frequency spectrum is indicated by filterresponse 640. Therefore, when the NGSO satellite is not in-line,subscriber terminals (shown as antennas 125) of the GSO satellitecommunication system can benefit the higher channel capacity if they arecapable of receiving the extended frequency spectrum. It will beunderstood that the position of the NGSO band related to the GSO band isfor illustration only and is not meant to be limiting. In one embodiment(shown in FIG. 6), the NGSO band is above the GSO band. In otherembodiment, the NGSO band may be below the GSO band as illustrated inFIG. 8B.

In one embodiment, the satellite may include an on-board control devicethat may demodulate and decode instructions transmitted from theterrestrial command center. The control device then selects the bandpassfilter having the appropriate bandwidth according to the decodedinstructions. In another embodiment, the control device may operateautonomously with a control program stored in a memory to select theappropriate bandpass filter directly without the intervention of thecommand center. This scenario may be realizable when the orbitalephemeris data has been predetermined and no changes in the trajectoryof the NGSO satellite constellation and utilized frequency bands will beexpected.

Since the orbital position locations of the NGSO satellites relative tothe earth and coverage areas are very predictable, the occurrence of theunavailability events are well known and relatively easy to determine byorbit monitoring equipment. Orbit monitoring may be performed at the GSOcommand center or at a site remote from the command center. In oneembodiment, the GSO command center may have the ability to directlyprovide control to the satellite as well as the ability to providecommands to every GSO Earth terminal connecting to the GSO satellitecommunication system. In another embodiment, the command center maytransmit instructions to the GSO satellite through the use of a GSOEarth terminal participating in the GSO communication network. FIG. 7illustrates an exemplary block diagram of a GSO command centercomprising a central processing unit 730 and a network control unit 740.The central processing unit 730 may be coupled to memory 760.Interference statistics between the GSO satellite link and the NGSOsatellite link can be performed by CPU 730 and the results may also bestored in the memory 760. The memory 760 can be in the form ofsemiconductor storage such as random access memory (static or dynamicRAM), magnetic storage such as hard discs, or other mass storage such asoptical discs. CPU 730 is further coupled to an orbital ephemeris dataacquisition unit 750 that collects ephemeris data of one or more NGSOsatellite constellations. NGSO satellite constellations may includemultiple satellites traveling in low earth orbit, medium earth orbit,and/or high earth orbit. CPU 730 may be used to compute the time periodwhere the orbital trajectory of the NGSO satellite constellation maycross the in-line path of the GSO satellite and one of the Earthterminals. The time period when a NGSO satellite of the NGSOconstellation may be in-line with the GSO channel with be stored in thememory 760. The CPU 730 may further be connected to a satellite controlunit 720 that may communicate with TTC terminal 170 to send commands tosatellite 105. The CPU 730 may further be connected to network controlunit 740 that is operative to communicate with each of the Earthterminals participating in the GSO satellite communication system.Network communication unit 740 may include a physical layer thatsupports a set of communication protocols such as point-to-pointprotocol (PPP), Internet protocol (IP), the transmission controlprotocol (TCP), a wireless wide area network protocol, a mobile cellularnetwork, and/or a combination of any communication protocols.

In one embodiment of the present invention, right before the onset of anunavailability event, the command center performs the following actions:i) the command center sends a command to the satellite instructing thesatellite to utilize the GSO bandwidth filter, i.e., all emissions ofthe NGSO band will be attenuated below a specified level, and ii) thecommand center instructs all participating GSO Earth terminals to onlytransmit signal energy in the uplink GSO uplink spectrum.

Immediately after the unavailability event, the command center performsthe following actions: i) the command center instructs the satellite toutilize the wider bandwidth filter that includes the GSO channel and theNGSO frequency band, and ii) the command center instructs allparticipating GSO Earth terminals in the GSO satellite system totransmit signal utilizing both the GSO and NGSO spectrum.

In one embodiment of the invention, the selection between the allocatedprimary GSO frequency spectrum and the extended frequency spectrum isperformed by a switch. Referring back to FIG. 5, switch 580 may be a PINdiode single-pole double-throw (SPDT) MMIC switch. The desired SPDTswitching function can be achieved with a variety of different GaAs PINdiode configurations such as series diodes, shunt diodes, and/or acombination of series and shunt diodes. Switch 580 may also beimplemented with a series and a shunt capacitivemicro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) switch. For example,commercially available high-power SPDT switch vendors for Ka-band areTriQuint Semiconductor and Endware, and an exemplary MEMS switch vendoris Teravicta Technologies. One skilled in the art will recognize thatthe implementation of switch 580 described herein merely illustrate oneembodiment of switch 580 and that alternative constructions andequivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, both the GSO and the NGSOsatellite systems utilize the Ka-band. Since the Ka-band allocatedfrequency bands for GSO and NGSO satellite systems are adjacent to eachother, extending the filter bandwidth to support the wider spectrum isvery straightforward.

In one embodiment, both the GSO and the NGSO satellite systems operatein a Ka-band. In one embodiment, the GSO primary channel frequencyspectrum is 28.1 to 28.6 GHz, and the GSO primary downlink channelfrequency spectrum is 18.3 to 18.8 GHz. The NGSO uplink channelfrequency spectrum is 28.6 to 29.1 GHz and the NGSO downlink channelfrequency spectrum is 18.8 to 19.3 GHz. FIG. 8A illustrates the bandpassfilter frequency response for the uplink and downlink channels of theGSO satellite communication system using the extended frequency spectrum(including the NGSO frequency spectrum in addition to the GSO frequencyspectrum). In this embodiment, the GSO channel spectrum is below theNGSO frequency spectrum, and the second bandpass filter 572 (FIG. 5)will have its bandwidth extended above the GSO spectrum to include theNGSO spectrum.

In another embodiment, the GSO primary uplink channel uses 29.5 to 30.0GHz, and the GSO primary downlink channel uses 19.7 to 20.2 GHz. TheNGSO uplink channel is 28.6 to 29.1 GHz and the NGSO downlink channel is18.8 to 19.3 GHz. FIG. 8B illustrates the bandpass filter frequencyresponse for the uplink and downlink channels of the GSO satellitecommunication system using the extended frequency spectrum. In thisembodiment, the GSO channel spectrum is above the NGSO frequencyspectrum, and the second band-pass filter 572 (FIG. 5) will have itsbandwidth extended below the GSO spectrum to include the NGSO spectrum.The NGSO frequency spectrum is in both cases in the proximate range ofthe GSO frequency spectrum. It will be understood that the frequencyspectrums for both GSO and NGSO satellite communication systems are forillustrative purpose only and are not meant to be limiting. In otherembodiments, the GSO and the NGSO satellite communication systems mayuse the Ku-band.

Specific details are given in the description to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practicedwithout these specific details. For example, well-known circuits,processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shownwithout unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the embodiments.

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a processthat is depicted as a flow cart, a structure diagram, or a blockdiagram. Although they may describe the operations as a sequentialprocess, many of the operations can be performed in parallel orconcurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may bere-arranged.

Furthermore, embodiments may be implemented by hardware, software,firmware, middleware, microcode, or any combination thereof. Whenimplemented in software, firmware, middleware or microcode, the programcode or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in amachine readable medium such as a storage medium. Processors may performthe necessary tasks.

Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by thoseskilled in the art that various modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from thespirit of the invention. For example, the above elements may merely be acomponent of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedenceover or otherwise modify the application of the invention. Accordingly,the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of theinvention, which is defined in the following claims.

1. A geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite for relayed communicationscomprising: an antenna for receiving a spot beam signal from a GSO earthstation; a down converter coupled to the antenna for generating adown-converted signal from the received spot beam signal; a band-passfilter coupled to the down converter and having a frequency responsethat allows passing of a signal at least partially occupying a frequencyspectrum allocated to a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) signal on aprimary basis, for generating a first output signal based on thedown-converted signal; and a switch coupled to the band-pass filter andhaving a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, theswitch permits transmission of the first output signal toward Earth, andwherein in the second position, the switch suppresses transmission ofthe first output signal toward Earth; and wherein the switch iscontrollable to be placed in the first or the second position based oninformation relating to occurrence of an in-line event involving the GSOsatellite and an NGSO satellite.
 2. The GSO satellite of claim 1,wherein the switch is directly coupled to the output of the band-passfilter, such that in the first position, the switch connects the outputof the band-pass filter to an output of the switch, and in the secondposition, the switch disconnects the output of the band-pass filter fromthe output of the switch.
 3. The GSO satellite of claim 1, furthercomprising a control device coupled to the switch and operable to placethe switch in either the first or the second position.
 4. The GSOsatellite of claim 3, wherein the control device is operable to placethe switch in either the first or the second position based on ephemerisdata stored on board the GSO satellite.
 5. The GSO satellite of claim 3,wherein the control device is operable to place the switch in either thefirst or the second position based on an instruction received from acommand center on Earth.
 6. The GSO satellite of claim 5, wherein thecontrol device includes a demodulator for demodulating the instructionfrom the down-converted signal.
 7. The GSO satellite of claim 5, whereinthe control device receives the instruction via a separate telemetrylink.
 8. The GSO satellite of claim 1, further comprising: a secondband-pass filter coupled to the down converter and having a frequencyresponse that allows passing of a signal not occupying the frequencyspectrum allocated to the NGSO signal on a primary basis, for generatinga second output signal based on the down-converted signal; wherein theswitch comprises a first input for receiving the first output signal anda second input for receiving the second output signal; and wherein inthe first position, the switch produces the first output signal, and inthe second position, the switch produces the second output signal.
 9. Amethod for relayed communications using a geostationary orbit (GSO)satellite comprising: receiving a spot beam signal at the GSO satellitefrom a GSO earth station; generating a down-converted signal from thereceived spot beam signal; using a band-pass filter having a frequencyresponse that allows passing of a signal at least partially occupying afrequency spectrum allocated to a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) signalon a primary basis, to generate a first output signal based on thedown-converted signal; and using a switch having a first and a secondposition to control transmission of the first output signal towardEarth, wherein in the first position, the switch permits transmission ofthe first output signal toward Earth, and wherein in the secondposition, the switch suppresses transmission of the first output signaltoward Earth; and wherein the switch is controllable to be placed in thefirst or the second position based on information relating to occurrenceof an in-line event involving the GSO satellite and an NGSO satellite.10. The method of claim 9, wherein the switch is directly coupled to theoutput of the band-pass filter, such that in the first position, theswitch connects the output of the band-pass filter to an output of theswitch, and in the second position, the switch disconnects the output ofthe band-pass filter from the output of the switch.
 11. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising a step of using a control device on the GSOsatellite to place the switch in either the first or the secondposition.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control device is usedto place the switch in either the first or the second position based onephemeris data stored on board the GSO satellite.
 13. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the control device is used to place the switch ineither the first or the second position based on an instruction receivedfrom a command center on Earth.
 14. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising a step of demodulating the instruction from thedown-converted signal.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising astep of receiving the instruction via a separate telemetry link.
 16. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising a step of: using a secondband-pass filter having a frequency response that allows passing of asignal not occupying the frequency spectrum allocated to the NGSO signalon a primary basis, to generate a second output signal based on thedown-converted signal; wherein the switch comprises a first input forreceiving the first output signal and a second input for receiving thesecond output signal; and wherein in the first position, the switchproduces the first output signal, and in the second position, the switchproduces the second output signal.
 17. A system for relayedcommunications using a geostationary orbit (GSO) satellite comprising:means for receiving a spot beam signal at the GSO satellite from a GSOearth station; means for generating a down-converted signal from thereceived spot beam signal; means for passing of a signal at leastpartially occupying a frequency spectrum allocated to anon-geostationary orbit (NGSO) signal on a primary basis, to generate afirst output signal based on the down-converted signal; and means forswitching having a first and a second position to control transmissionof the first output signal toward Earth, wherein in the first position,the means for switching permits transmission of the first output signaltoward Earth, and wherein in the second position, the means forswitching suppresses transmission of the first output signal towardEarth; and means for controlling, to place the means for switching inthe first or the second position based on information relating tooccurrence of an in-line event involving the GSO satellite and an NGSOsatellite.